SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford demanded Michael Gove start the long promised review into an Westminster’s £160 million EU farming money cash grab immediately.
Blackford said the unwillingness to commit to a timetable for a review into how EU subsidies are distributed, was leaving farmers without clarity on future finances.
Back in 2013, reform of the Common Agricultural Policy saw the EU announce moves to redistribute payments more fairly, on the basis of average Euros per hectare.
The UK only qualified for a £190m uplift from Brussels because of Scotland’s low payment rate per hectare, bringing the whole of Britain below the qualifying threshold.
However, David Cameron’s government gave Scotland just £30m of that money, distributing the other £160m across the rest of the UK.
Gove has promised a review into those convergence uplift payments, but last month said this had been held up by the UK Treasury.
In his letter to the Minister, Blackford said any further delay would be “unacceptable news for Scotland’s farmers”.
“The £190m Convergence Uplift payment was made by the European Union in order to bring the Scottish hill farmers up to the average per-hectare payments of all the other EU countries.
“It is beyond argument that were it not for the low rate paid to the hill farmers in Scotland then his payment would not have been made and as the Scottish Economy Rural Secretary [Fergus Ewing] has made clear in his previous representations to you this money was earned in Scotland and should be returned to Scotland.
“The issue here is one of certainty and trust, and for this review to be delayed yet again sends the message that Scotland’s needs in agricultural funding discussions are of insufficient priority to the UK Government to merit any form of prompt action.”
Blackford added that the review was necessary to understanding how future funding could be accessed. “We are clear that the historic payment rate would mean Scottish farmers will be continuously disadvantaged and that would be totally unfair.”
Previously, when asked about the money, Gove accused the SNP of being “grievance-mongering separatists who masquerade as Scotland’s voice but are in fact Scotland’s girners”.
On Wednesday, Gove told a Holyrood committee mistakes had been made with the money that was supposed to have been spent on Scottish farmers.
“That money had been allocated and is in the budgets of the various governments of the devolved administrations and we must the decision of the coalition government.
“I cannot call back money which has been spent or has been in budgets that have already been allocated.
“What we are not doing is clawing money back but what we are doing is being aware that good arguments were made at the time and we will, in good faith, honour the integrity of the individuals who made those decisions at the time.”
Gove said future funding allocation would reflect the need of upland farmers but stopped short of committing to a review.
“My aim is to ensure in future we will allocate funding which is sensitive to the specific needs of each part of the UK,” he said.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel